Tunnel kiln



May 15, 1928.

J. B. OWENS TUNNEL KILN Filed March 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nt NH m. RN(

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May 15, 1928.

J. B; o wNs TUNNEL KILN Filed March 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lit) ucts of combustion from one chamber to join and blend with the heat and products of combustion of the neXt chamber.

I do not limit myself to any particular length or extent of this side Wall, as it may project into the kiln. Neither do I limit to any particular size of the space above this Wall as it may, in some instances, be desirable to extend the Wall upwardly until it comes into contact with the crown of the chamber.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a longitudinal section through a kiln having the present improvements;

Fig. 2, is a vertical section on the line {2*2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3, is a similar vieu` on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, is a detail elevation looking toward the exterior of the combustion chambers; and

Fig. 5, is a detail horizontal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

The tunnel of the kiln appears at 1, the stack or other draft means at 2, and the rails on which the cars travel are shown at 3.

The cars carrying the goods or ware enter at the right-hand end of the kiln, Fig, 1, as indicated at 4 and emerge from the left* hand end thereof as indicated at 5. The preheating zone of the kiln is shown at and the cooling zone appears at 7.

The burning zone is indicated at 8.

As explained in my Patent No. 1,356,397, great advantages are obtained by providing a multiple tiring or burning zone, that is, one which is much longer than is possible by the use of a single combustion chamber.

I have indicated the burning or tiring zone as of substantially three times the length of the usual single zone but it will be understood that it might be but twice the length or, on the other hand, four times the length of a single zone.

In consequence of providing a multiple tiring zone, the goods or Ware become subj eeted to a long soaking heat Which enables the ears to be speeded up as compared to their necessaryY slowness of travel in a single tiring zone kiln.

The multiple combustion or iiring chambers according to the present invention are shown at 9, 10, 11. They are of substantially the same length although they may vary in length, if preferred. Preferably, in interior conformation these chambers are alike. All of them are tired in the general direction of their length, that is, in a general longitudinal relationship to the length of the tunnel 1 and, may, if desired, be substantially parallel to the length of said tunnel but need not necessarily be so. It isto be understood, however, as has been pointed ont in my earlier patents, that by longitudinal firing, I mean in the general direction of the length of the combustion chamber and not, necessarily in exact parallelism to the tunnel or to the direction of travel of the Ware.

The combustion chambers are provided with tiring openings 12 through which li( uid or gaseous fuel is delivered from any suitable nozzles or burners 13 having any ordinary or preferred valves or controlling means. The direction ot' introduction of the liquid or gaseous fuel is that ot' the length of the combustion chamber and in a direction opposite to the travel oi the ware on the usual kiln cars. I may use coal, coke, Wood, or any other fuel, in lieu of oil or gas, for the burning of the products passing through the kiln, admitting the gases from the same into the kiln through the openings 12. The arrows in Figs. 1 and 5 indicate the direction oi' travel of the kiln cars, one of said cars appearing at 14, Figs. 2 and 3 and travelling on the rails 3. T he ware or goods to be burned is shown in diagrammatic form only at 15.

At opposite ends ol the combustion chambers 9, 10, 11, there are provided the baflling or deliecting walls 1G which are arranged at an angle to the length ot the kiln. The detlecting walls or bailles 1G do not have to be disposed at any exactly predetermined angle nor need they be ot' any exact length, as they may extend as far as the main walls of the tunnel on either side of the combustion chamber in some installations. It is only necessary that the angularity of the walls 1G be such as to adequately deflect the heat and products of combustion into the burning zone 8 of the tunnel 1 in a direction which will, under the action of the draft through the stack 2, deliver the heat and products oi combustion into the burning zone in such manner that they will readily pass into the tunnel. The angle of these walls or battles 16 should be sufficiently great in reference to the longitudinal axis ol' the tunnel that highly developed combustion will occur in each chamber E), 10, 1l, due to retardation ol' the ilow from the chambers into the tunnel.

In order that the flow of the heat and products of combustion from clunnber 9 may augment and join the flow from chamber 1t), and the flow from chambers t) and l() may join the flow Yfrom chamber 11, I have found that it is very advantageous to provide .spaces 1T to permit the action just described but these spaces may be omitted and the walls extended out to the lines oi the side Walls of the tunnel in some installations. When the spaces 17 are provided the eil'ect is that there is practically an even distribution of the heat from chambers 9. 10, and 11 to the Ware 15 on the cars 1-1 during the period that the ware remains in the burning zone 8,

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whereas if the spaces 17 were not provided, the practically even or nearly even distribution of the soaking heat"7 effect would not be obtained in as highly satisfactory a manner.

Referring to 2, it will be seen that the deflecting or bathing Walls 16 do not extend all the Way u to the arch 18 which forms the top of the burning zone and joins the series of chambers the kiln With those on the other side thereof. The purpose is to provide spaces 19 for the passage of the heat and products of combustion over the tops of the Walls joining the combustion chambers. In this manner the entire height of the stack of Ware 15 is subject to heat radiated laterally and also down- Wardly in relation to the stack 15 and there is no choking of the How en route to the draft stack 2 nor too great concentration on the middle part of the Ware 15. I may, in some installations, find it expedient to run the Walls 16 clear up to the arch 18, or nearly so, instead of providing the spaces 19.

To permit the convenient regulation of the burners or nozzles 13, the'outside of the conibustion chambers are provided with entrant parts or pockets 2O into which an operative may reach or Walk to manipulate the nozzles or burners. Suitable peep-holes 21 are provided i-n the Walls of the combustion chambers to enable operatives to inspect the firing conditions prevailing in the chambers 9, 10, and 11.

What I claim is:

1. A tunnel kiln having a multiple firing' or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers arranged in succession, each provided with an angularly arranged deflecting or battling Wall, said chambers being in communication. y

2. A tunnel kiln havingr a multiple firing or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers arranged in succession each provided `With an angularly arranged deecting or bafih'ng Wall, and means for firing each of said combustion chambers independently of the other chambers in the general direction of the length thereof to direct the flame and products of combustion against the angularly arranged deilecting or baffling Wall, in each instance, said chambers being in communication.

3. A tunnel kiln having a multiple tiring or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers each provided With an upright angularly arranged defiecting or baling Wall, and an arch for the said chambers and the tunnel, the deflecting or baffling Walls terminating short of said arch, thereby providing spaces affording communication between the combustion chambers.

4. A tunnel kiln having a. multiple firing or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers each provided with an 8, 10, 11 on one side of upright angularly arranged deflecting or baiing Wall, an arch for the said chambers and the tunnel, the deflecting or battling AWalls terminating short of said arch, thereby providing spaces aifording communication not only pass into the tunnel but to pass i over the deflecting Walls into the next chamber.

5. A tunnel kiln having a multiple firing or burning Zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers arranged in succession, each provided With an angularly arranged deiiecting or baffling Wall, the side Walls of the tunnel being provided With channels or spaces which permit the heat and products of combustion from onefchamber to join or blend With the heat and products of combustion from the next chamber alongside the Ware in the burning zone.

6. A tunnel kiln having a multiple firing or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers arranged in succession, each provided With an angularly arranged deiiecting or baffling Wall the side Walls of the tunnel being provided with channels or spaces Which permit the heat and products of combustion from one chamber to join or blend with the heat and products of combustion from the next chamber alongside the Ware in the burning zone, and means for tiring each of said combustion chambers iii the general direction of its length to di-.

rect the flame and products of combustion against the angularly arranged deflecting or baffling Walls. i

7. A tunnel kiln having a multiple firing or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers each provided with an angularly arranged deecting Wall, said combustion chambers being connected by channels or spaces `which permit the hea-t and products of combustion from one chamber to join or blend With the heat and products of combustion from the next chamber alongside the Ware in the burning zone, an arch for the top of the said chambers and the tunnel, said arch rising above the sides of the combustion chambers and located above, and free of, the bafliing or deecting falls, thereby providing spaces connecting the combustion chambers above said deflecting or baffling Walls.

f 8. A tunnel kiln having a multiple tiring' or burning zone comprising a plurality of combustion chambers each provided with an angularly arranged deflecting Wall, said combustion chambers being connected by channels or spaces which permit the heat and products of combustion from one chamber to join or blend with the heat and produets of combustion from the next chamber alongside the Ware in the burning zone, an arch for the top of the said chambers and the tunnel, said arch rising above the Sides of the combustion chambers and located above, and free of, the baling or deieeting Walls, thereby providing spaces connecting the combustion Chambers above said deleeting or bnling walls, and means for 10 firing each of said combustion chambers 1n the direction of its length to direct the flame and products of combustion against the angularly arranged or defleeting Walls.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

JOHN B. OWENS. 

